Contact:

Ed Plaster
Phone: 651.423.8498
E-mail

Matt Brooks
Phone: 651.423.8392
E-mail

Jeff Kleinboehl
Phone: 651.423.8478
E-mail

Nursery and Landscape sales have topped $2.1 billion a year and the industry needs an additional 2,200 full-time and 3,200 part-time employees.

At DCTC, you can learn what it takes to become successful in the Landscape and Horticulture industry.

News

The prepared remarks by the out-going President of the MNLA

January 12, 2007

Ed Plaster

"We’re also pleased to present a Special Service Award today to one of our long-time industry friends. Ed Plaster recently retired after 30 years as an instructor at Dakota County Technical College.

Ed has bachelor’s and masters degrees from the from the University of Minnesota. Before joining DCTC in 1977, he worked at the University’s Horticulture Research Center in Chanhassen. While at DCTC, he has taught numerous green industry courses including greenhouse operations, nursery operations, plant ID, plant science, and soil science. He was the advisor to the student hort club and was also responsible for care of the college’s greenhouses and interior plantings.

Ed is long-time member of the MNLA Certification Committee and previously served on the Plant Materials Committee where he frequently provided the van and the driving for many Plant Materials Tours. He’s served on the Accreditation Committee for the Professional Landcare Network and the Commissioner’s Advisory Committee on Science and Natural Areas for the DNR. He was the long-time chair for the DCTC Academic Affairs and Standards Council; plus is an MNLA Certified Professional and an ASHS Certified Professional Horticulturist.

But Ed’s greatest legacy to Minnesota’s green industry is the students he helped to train – graduates who are among the most sought-after by nursery, garden center, greenhouse and landscape companies. Hundreds of students learned good horticultural skills from Ed – and their knowledge was so good that many, many of them passed the MNLA Certification exam as a capstone to their educational experience. Just as importantly, Ed’s demonstration of industry service is reflected in his graduates who have volunteered their time to MNLA as well as other green industry and community causes.

Ed’s been married to his wife, Susan, for 38 years, and has two children and two young granddaughters. Please help me congratulate MNLA Special Service Award Winner Ed Plaster."

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